Mining apparatus



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MINING APPARATUS Original Filed May 2l, 1941, 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 12, 1946 MINING APPARATUS Clyde, P. Baldwin, Claremont, N. H., and Harry H; VanderzeeMichigan City, Ind., assignors to Sullivan Machinery Company,` a corporation of Massachusetts @riginal application May 21, 1941, Serial No. 394,410. Divided and this application February 24, 1942, SeriaLNo. 432,150y

(Cl. BSZ-28) 3 Claims.

'Ifhis invention relates tol miningapparatus, and more particularly to improvements in a coal mining apparatus of the rubber-tired universal cutter type especially designed for use in trackless coal mining and capable-of cutting plane kerfs at Various locations in a coal seam.

An object of the present invention is, to provide an improved coal mining apparatus. /Another object is to provide an improved adjustable keri' cutting mechanism, A still further object is to provide an improved adjustable supporting structure for the kerf cutterof the korf cutting mechanism of such a mining apparatus whereby plane kerfs may beY cut at various locations in a coal seam, with facility. Yet another object is to provide, in a coal mining apparatus of the above character, improvedmeans for rotating the cutter carrying head and for locking the cutter carrying head in its different positions of adjustment. Still another object is to provide an improved coal mining apparatus having novel combinations and arrangements of parts. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial'No. 394,410, filed May 21, 1941. Certain features originally claimed in this application and relating tothe improved hydraulically operated cutter bar adjusting and' swinging means j with the improved operating fluid supply arrangements therefore are being claimed in our cepending divisional application Serial No. 635,678, led December 18, 1945. 1

In the accompanying drawings there is shownfor purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the improved coal mining apparatus, with a portion of the top cover broken away to illustrate structural details.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the coal mining apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional, view taken substantially on line 5.-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 iS an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line lie-.6, of Fig. 2..

Fgd is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the kerf cutting mec hanism shown` in 1.

Fig. 84 is a side elevational viewof the structure shown in Fig. 7, with a portion broken away in verticalsection to illustrate structural details.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 8 9 of Fig. 8. l

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on line lQ---lllv of Fig. 1.

In this illustrative embodiment oi' the invention there is shown a coal mining apparatus of the rubber-tired universal type especially designed for use in trackless coal mining. It will be evident, however, that various features of the invention may be embodied in coal mining apparatus of various other types, and, if desired, the apparatus may be mounted on track wheels to travel along a mine trackway or may be tractortread mounted.

The coal mining apparatus as disclosed is mounted on relatively large pneumatic rubbertired -wheels adapted to run along the floor of amine without the aid of a guiding trackway, and has universally mounted kerf cutting mechanism capable of cutting plane kerfs at various locations in a coal seam, with comparative ease and eilciency. Since the apparatus is mounted to run on rubber-tired wheels which directly engage the mine door, the apparatus is not dependent on a guiding trackway, and, therefore, may be maneuvered in any desired direction and located at any desired point with respect tothe coal face and ribs; and the apparatus may be propelled by the rubber-tired traction wheels both during maneuvering and during the kerf cutting operation.

The coal mining apparatus herein constitutes an improvement over that disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 578,084, filed February 15, 1945, which is a division of our earlier iiled application Serial No. 378,728, led Feb. 13,

` cutter Y A motor 8 drives the kerf cutter, while a separate motor 5 drives a pump lil of the hydraulic system., and the latter embodies control valve mechanism, generally designated Il.

The kerf cutting mechanism fi is generally sim ilar to that disclosed in the copending application Serial No. 578,084, above referred to, and comprises a horizontal turntable I2 carried at the front end of the main frame or body l intermediate the front traction wheels 2, in the manner shown in Fig. 1; and pivotally mounted on this turntable,- to swing in a vertical direction relative thereto is an elongated arm structure or boom I3. The arm structure or boom overlies the turntable and extends forwardly in advance of the forward end of the main frame or body, and the forward portion of the boom carries a rotatable cutter carrying head lll which constitutes an outer extension of the boom. The cutter carrying head is mounted to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the boom and has a rotatable front neck frame l journaled on bearings on the non-rotatable rear boom frame it. Pivotally mounted at El on the forward portion of the rotatable neck frame l5 is a cutter support i8, the latter being swingable relative to the neck frame about an axis at right angles to the axis of head rotation. The cutter support i8 of the rotatable'cutter carrying head i4 has pivotally mounted thereon to swing about the axis i8 a cutter carrying hanger frame 20, the latter being swingable relative to the cutter support about an axis at right angles to thecutter support pivot axis. The kerf cutter 5 is carried by the hanger frame 2li and comprises an elongated plane cutter bar 2l having guided for circulation about its margin an endless cutter chain 22. The motor` 8 is arranged at the rear portion of the boom I3, and the casing 23 of this motor constitutes the rearward portion of the boom frame i6. This motor is preferably of the electric type and preferably has its armature shaft arranged with its axis of rotation coincident with the axis of rotation of the cutter carrying head I4 and is operatively connected to the cutter chain 22 to drive the latter, in the manner fully described in the copending application Serial No. 578,084, mentioned above, so that the cutter chain may be driven irrespective of the position of the cutter carrying head it about its axis, the tilted position of the cutter support I8, or the swivelled position of the bar hanger frame 28.

For swinging the boom i8 in a vertical'direction about its pivot relative to the turntable l2 and for locking the boom in its adjusted position, there are provided, at the opposite sides of the boom, upright hydraulic cylinders while mounted on the neck frame 5 of the cutter head is a hydraulic cylinder 25 for tilting the cutter support about its pivot relative to the neck frame and for locking the cutter support in its adjusted position. Also mounted on the neck frame, at the opposite sides of the latter, are hydraulic cylinders 2B, 26 for swinging the bar hanger frame 20 about its pivotal axis with respect to the cutter' support and for holding the bar hanger frame in its adjusted position. These hydraulic cylinders and their operative connections with the devices swung thereby are likewise fully described in the copending application Serial No. 578,084, above referred to, and further mention thereof will be made later.

The means for rotating the cutter carrying head 4 about the longitudinal axis of the boom I3 may assume various forms, and as herein shown comprises a conventional hydraulic motor 2l mounted on the motor casing 23 at the rear end of the boom. This motor is of the reversible type and has its power shaft keyed to a worm shaft ZS (Fig. 8) herein suitably journaled within a housing 29 secured to the rear end of the boom. The worm 3U of the worm shaft meshes with a worm wheel 3| (see also Fig. 4) keyed to a longitudinal shaft 32 likewise suitably journaled within the gear housing. Secured to and driven by the shaft 32 is a spur gear 3S meshing with a spur gear Sli, the latter having its hub fixed t0 a longitudinal shaft 35. The shaft S5 is suitably journaled 'within the housing and is keyed at 36 to an alined shaft 38 which extends longitudinally over the top of the motor casing, as shown in Fig. i, and is suitably journaled in bearings supported by the boom. Fixed to the forward end of the shaft 3S, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, is a chain sprocket 40 connected by an endless drive chain lil to a large chain sprocket 52 (Fig. 8) the latter herein keyed to the rearward portion of the rotatable neck frame i 5 of the cutter carrying head and surrounding the axis of head rotation. The upper portion of the drive chain di is guarded by a housing 4t, and the forward end of the shaft 39 is journaled in an outboard bearing it supported by this housing (Fig. 5). The teeth of the worin gears 38, il are selflocking vand serve to lock automatically the cutter head in its dierent positions of adjustment. As shown in Fig. l. rotation of the cutter carrying head with respect to the boom is limited by a stop lug i5 secured to the neck frame and engageable with a stop lugl (i6 formed on an end plate 6'! secured to the nonrotatable rearward portion it of the boom. Mounted on the main frame or body i at the opposite sides of the turntable l2 are hydraulic cylinders t3, 48 (Fig. l) containing reciprocable pistons having their piston rods i9 pivotally connected to lateral lugs integral with the turntable l2 for rotating the turntable, thereby to swing the boom structure in a horizontal direction, in a manner likewise described in the copending applica' tion Serial No. 578,084, above referred to. When the liquid is trapped within these hydraulic cylinders, the turntable may be locked in its diner ent positions of adjustment.

The driving means E, 6 for the front traction wheels 2 includes reversible hydraulic motors 5i), 5o mounted at the opposite sides of the main frame or body l just rearward of the front traction wheels. These motors each drive a chain sprocket 5l connected by an endless drive chain 52 to -a chain sprocket 53, one secured to the hub of each front traction wheel. As fully described in application Serial No. 394,410, there is a plural speed transmission means associated with each of the hydraulic motors 59, '50, and it is accordingly evident that the front traction wheels may be driven by the hydraulic motors 50 through the plural speed transmission means at relatively high maneuvering speeds or at relatively low speeds appropriate for cutting.

The novel uid conducting means associated with the rotatable cutter carrying head includes conduits 54, 55, 55 and 57 to which liquid under pressure is supplied from the pump Ill under the control of the control valve mechanism il, and these conduits are arranged in a novel manner with respect to the rotatable neck frame I5 of the cutter carrying head lll. The conduits 5d and 5'5 are respectively connected to the opposite ends of the bar swinging cylinders 26, while the conduits 56 and 5l are connected to the opposite ends of the cutter support tilt cylinder 25. As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the conduits 54, 55, 56 and 57 are secured by a clamp plate 58 to the top of the boom; these conduits extending over the top of the boom and having their forward portions secured by a clamp plate '59 to the rotatable neck frame I5. Intermediate the conduit portions on the top of the boom and the conduit portions on the rotatable neck frame are exible conduit portions or bights lili, 6 I, 62 and 63, and these flexible portions partially encircle the neck frame at the opposite sides of the latter in the manner shown in Fig. 9. These flexible conduit portions permit rotation of the cutter head with respect to the boom within the limits provided by the stop lugs 45, 46 (see Fig. 10). A guide bracket 64, secured to the boom frame i5, serves as a guide for the central loop portions of the flexible conduit portions 65, El, G2 and 53. It is accordingly evident that by the provision of the particular arrangement of the supply connections with respect to the neck frame of the cutter carrying head, liquid under pressure may be supplied to the cutter support tilt. cylinder 25 and the cutter bar swing cylinders 26, 26 irrespective of the position of the cutter carrying head about the longitudinal axis of the boom. The pump IE) also may supply liquid under pressure, under the control of the valve mechanism Il, to the opposite ends of the boom swing cylinders i8 and the boom lift cylinders 2d, and to the head rotating motor 21 in the manner also fully described in our copending application Serial No. 394,410.

The mode of operation of the improved coal mining apparatus is essentially the same as that fully described in our copending application Serial No. 578,084, mentioned above. The apparatus may be propelled about the mine at relatively high traveling speeds or may be propelled at relatively slow speeds appropriate for cutting by the traction wheel driving means 6, 6, and steering of the apparatus may be effected by the iluid actuated steering mechanism 1 under the control of the valve mechanism I I. During the kerf cutting operation liquid under pressure may be supplied to the hydraulic cylinders 24, 25, 26 and 4B and to the head rotating motor 21 under the control of the control valve mechanism Il to effect adjustment of the kerf cutter into the desired cutting position and to effect movement of the kerf cutter during the kerf cutting operation. The turntable rotating cylinders 48 may be operated to swing the cutter supporting boom laterally, and the cutter swinging cylinders 26 may be operated to swing the cutter about its pivot relative to the boom. The cylinders 24 may be operated to swing the boom in a vertical direction relative to the turntable while the cylinder 25 may be operated to tilt the cutter support relative to the neck frame. The head rotating motor 21 may be operated to turn the cutter carrying head about the longitudinal axis of the boom to locate the kerf cutter in either vertical, horizontal or any de- S sired intermediate cutting positions. When liquid is trapped in the various hydraulic cylinders, the parts adjusted thereby may be locked in their adjusted positions. The cutter carrying head may be rotated relative to the rearward portion of the boom by the motor 21 under the control of the valve mechanism Il and head rotation is effected through the gearing 30, 3l, 33, 35, shafts 35 and 33 and the chain and sprocket connection dil, lll, 42, and when the supply of liquid to the head rotating motor is cut oif the self-locking teeth of the worm gears 30, 3l serve to hold the cutter head in its position of adjustment. Since the general mode of operation of a coal mining apparatus of the character disclosed is fully described in our copending application Serial No. 578,084, above mentioned, further description of the mode of operation of the apparatus is herein unnecessary.

While there is in this application specically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modifled and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining apparatus, kerf cutting mechanism including a swingable boom, a cutter carrying head mounted on said boom, and motor operated means for rotating said head and for locking said head in its different positions of adjustment including a motor carried at the rear end of said boom, and connections between said motor and said head including a shaft extending along said boom, a rotating member iixed to said shaft at the front `end thereof, and bearings for the iront end of said shaft at the opposite side of said rotating member.

2. In a mining apparatus, a support, a cutter carrying head journaled on said support, and means for rotating said head including a drive shaft on said support, a chain sprocket on said shaft near the front end thereof, a large chain sprocket on said head and surrounding the head axis, and an endless drive chain connecting said sprockets in driving relation, and bearing means for the front end of said shaft including bearings at the opposite sides of said first mentioned chain sprocket, said endless drive chain extending between said shaft bearings.

3. In a mining apparatus, a support, acutter carrying head journaled on said support, and means for rotating said head including a drive shaft on said support, a rotatable transmission element on said shaft near the front end thereof, a rotatable transmission element on said head and surrounding the axis of head rotation, a ilexable endless transmission connection between said rotatable transmission elements, and bearing means for the front end of said shaft including shaft bearings at the opposite sides of said first mentioned rotatable transmission element, said flexible transmission connection extending between said shaft bearings.

CLYDE P. BALDWIN. HARRY H. VANDERZEE. 

